Bracelet



Jan. 28, '1930. s. ARMBRUST ET AL BRACELET Filed July 16, 1929 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOTTLOIB ARMBRUST, OF NORTH PROVIDENCE, AND FERDINAND ARMBRUST, OF PROVI- DEN CE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS T ARMIBRUS'I' CHAIN COMPANY, OF PROVI- DENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND BRACELET Application filed July 16,

Our invention relates to watch bracelets of the chain type wherein the fastening means includes a clasp.

The essential objects of our invention are to adapt a clasp to bracelet links; to facilitate the opening and closing of the clasp while the bracelet is upon the wrist, and to attain these ends in a simple and inexpensive structure.

To the above ends essentially our invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a bracelet embodying our invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the clasp and the portions of the chain 0 sections adjacent thereto,

Figure 3, av similar elevation of the same reversed,

Figure 4, a section taken on line 4-4: of Figure 2, and

Figure 5, a detail view of one of the end links of the bracelet.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

As herein illustrated the bracelet comprises two similar chain sections 8 and 9 attached at adjacent ends to a watch 10 in any usual or convenient manner, and a clasp 12 at tached to the free end of one of the chain sections. Each of the chain sections is composed of three oval curb links 14 and triangular curblinks 15 upon the ends of the sections which engage the watch, and similar shaped curbed links 17 and 18 upon the free ends of the sections 8 and 9 respectively. Each of the triangular curb links 15, 17 and 18 comprises a bar portion 19 and a curbed loop portion 20. The links 15 preferably have the bar portions 19 hollow in order to loosely receive therein the usual pintles 22 carried in the common pairs of lateral lugs 23 upon the watch. It will be noted that the curb or transverse torsion of the loop .portions of the links 17 and 18 are in opposite directions, as shown in Figure 4.

Referring particularly to the clasp 12 it 1929. Serial No. 378,670.

comprises a broad front body portion or plate 25 having upon one end a rearwardly directed retaining beak or lip 26 of less width than the body portion, and centrally disposed upon the end of the latter, and is provided with curved or rounded lateral edges 27 at its free end. The resultant angular spaces 28 occasioned by the lesser width of the beak relatively to the body 25 are of a width corresponding to the thickness of the material in the loop portion 20 of the link 18. The bar 19 of the last mentioned link is adapted to detachably engage with the beak. Upon the end of the body or plate 12 opposite the beak is a rearwardly directed nearly closed loop 30, also of less width than the body and centrally disposed with relation thereto leaving resultant end spaces 31 for the accommodation of the loop portion 20 of the link 17 whose bar portion 19 is pivotally mounted in the loop 30. Continuous with the loop is the shank 33 of a resilient tongue 34 having a broad head 35 upon its end projecting laterally of the shank upon opposite sides and of a width equal to that of the clasp body 12. The forward corners 36 of the head are curved or rounded, while its rear corners 37 are acute and inclined. All parts of the clasp are integral and composed of thin resilient metal. The body portion 21 is convened and its broad surface is adapted to receive any desired ornamentation. 1

In use it will be understood that the back of the clasp 12 lies adjacent the wrist, and as the bracelet must be reasonably tight around the wrist accessibility to the tongue and operation thereof as well as the release of the chain from the front and by one hand would be impractical in the case of a clasp of ordinary construction. In Figure 2 the chain link 18 is shown in engaged position; and, in Figure 3, in disengaged position. In effecting disengagement the operator merely inserts his thumb nail behind one of the corners 37 and presses the same towards the body 25 which thus compresses the head 35 so that escape of the bar 19 of the link 18 is permitted by simultaneously pushing the whole clasp 12 towards the link preferably obliquely. This oblique longitudinal movement causes the rounded corners 36 of the tongue to cooperate with the rounded end of the lip 26 to assist in the ejection of the link bar 19. A feature of importance is the narrow dimensions of the tongue portion 34 relatively to the end portion 35, whereby it is possible, in forming the loop 30, to pass the head 35 of the tongue 34 through the adjacent link 17, notwithstanding the fact that the head 35 is broader than the opening of the link. Furthermore only a small amount of stock is required in the tongue shank 33, and thus its resiliency is enhanced, while the extension of the head 35 to the edges of the body 25 makes the tongue accessible to the operators thumb nail.

lVe claim 1. In a watch bracelet, two flexible sections including terminal attaching links each comprising a bar portion and a loop portion, and a clasp comprising in a single piece a broad substantially rectangular body portion, a rearwardly directed beak upon one end of the body portion adapted to detachably engage the bar portion of one of the terminal links, a loop upon the opposite end of the body portion pivotally engaging the bar portion of the other terminal link, and a resilient tongue including a shank integral with the loop, and a broad laterally projecting head upon the end of the shank engageable with the beak and of a Width equal to the width of the body portion.

2. In a watch bracelet, flexible sections including terminal attaching links comprising bar portions and loop portions, and a clasp comprising a broad substantially rectangular body portion, a beak upon one end of the body portion of less width than the body provided with rounded curved lateral edges upon its free end and adapted to receive the bar portion of one terminal link, a loop upon the opposite end of the body portion loosely engaging the bar portion of the other terminal link, and a tongue comprising a shank integral with the loop and of less width than the body portion, and a broad head upon the end of the shank projecting laterally from the shank to the edges of the body portion overlapped by the beak and provided with rounded corners upon its forward end.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

GOTTLOB ARMBRUST. FERDINAND ARMBRUST. 

